At this time of year, even Santa needs a little help making wishes come true. For the fourth holiday season, local law enforcement officers stepped in to take 30 kids from Ionia, Saranac and Clarksville schools to do their holiday shopping at the Meijer store in Ionia Tuesday.

Volunteers from the Michigan State Police, Ionia County Sheriff's Office and Ionia Department of Public Safety participated in the "Shop with a Hero" event, hosted by Meijer. Each department was allotted 10 kids, and worked with the schools to select the children, who were from age 6 to 6th grade.

The children, their parents, school officials and officers were treated to lunch before heading down the aisles together, some with lists in hand. Children each were given a $100 gift card, donated by Meijer, and encouraged to buy gifts for themselves.

"We try to tell them to purchase for themselves, but they always want to buy for their families," said Lt. Roger Vander Molen of the ICSO.

Deputy Chad Bustraan from the ICSO said he is "thankful" to participate again in "Shop with a Hero."

"You recognize kids from the community that are most deserving of the experience, and they have the opportunity to buy for themselves, but instead think of others. They want to buy for their siblings despite our encouraging them to buy for themselves," said Bustraan, who has volunteered every year. "It's one day of the year when it's not routine police work. It's a sobering and very rewarding experience."

So many times on the job, police officers see the negatives in the community, said Craig Pickens of IDPS who also serves as a school liaison. This is his third year volunteering.

"To do something positive like this – you live for these moments, when you can give these kids a happy start to the holiday season," he said.

Some of the kids who are invited to shop with a hero come from "a hard, hard life," said Pickens. "It's through no fault of their own or their parents. They've been given a hand to play and they just don't have as much. It brings tears to my eyes to see kids like that."

Ionia mom Amanda, who was shopping with her son, Duane, 11, called "Shop with a Hero" "amazing, especially that it takes kids who are high risk and spends time doing things that are just for them." Duane picked out a wallet for himself with a University of Michigan logo on it, which he proudly showed off.

Niki Brehm with the Michigan State Police also is a third year volunteer with "Shop with a Hero." Brehm said when she entered the store, she was greeted by a little girl whose mother said she'd been up since 4:30 a.m. in anticipation of coming to shop with an officer.

Page 2 of 2 - "She was so excited, and that's what it's all about," Brehm said. "There are a lot of kids who don't get the opportunity to be handed $100 and told, 'Go get whatever you want.' What brings me to tears is a lot of the kids say they want to get something for their brothers and sisters. We encourage them to buy for themselves, but it's not just me-me-me. Their siblings are on their minds, too. This is a feel-good day."

Summer, 11, said she was "really excited" to participate.

"This is new to me to shop with a cop – I've never seen one up close before," she said.

Although she didn't buy anything strictly for herself, Summer did buy a snow-art set for her and her sister to work on together so there will be "no fights involved. I want to be on Santa's nice list."

"This means a lot to us. BreAnna's very excited," said Sonia of Clarksville of her daughter. "Her experience lately with officers has been negative (due to family issues). This is going to leave a positive experience on my daughter. For me, it brings me to tears. (Shopping and buying gifts) just hasn't been possible. For Meijer to do this – she's ecstatic, and I'm thrilled. It's amazing."

"It's wonderful for these guys to do this. I can see that they enjoy being with the children," said Emerson Elementary School Principal Mitch Mercer. "Without their support, a lot of kids would not have a positive Christmas. This puts a lot of smiles on a lot of kids' faces today."